Ten-year MLB veteran Andy Kosco passed away earlier this month. He was 84 years old. Kosco played in 658 games for the Twins, Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, Angels, Red Sox, and Reds from 1965-74. Primarily a corner outfielder, he appeared at all three outfield positions, as well as first and third base.
Born October 5, 1941 in Ohio, Kosco grew up a multi-sport star but ultimately chose baseball, signing his first professional contract with the Tigers in 1959. However, he did not make the majors until he joined the Twins, with whom he debuted at 23 years old in 1965.
Kosco’s best tool was his power. He hit double-digit home runs in three seasons, with a personal best of 19 for the Dodgers in 1969. All told, he racked up 73 home runs and 156 extra-base hits in his career, good for a .394 slugging percentage and .158 isolated power. His isolated power was 29% better than the league average during the years in which he played. In the field, Kosco was a fine defender, finishing with a .980 fielding percentage and a +6 total zone rating as an outfielder. He recorded 29 outfield assists in his career, including 10 with the Yankees in 1968, which tied him for eighth-most in the American League.
Kosco played his last professional season for the Toledo Mud Hens, then the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies, in 1975. He retired after the 1975 season. We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our sincerest condolences to Kosco’s family, friends, and fans.
RIP Kosco, impressive 10 years in the bigs.
He was not impressive for the Brewers, it was a terrible trade for them ,of 20 game winner Al Downing for Kosco.
Nice to dump on a dead man. Real mature.
He’s not dumping on the guy, just making an observation. what’s with the obsession of dead people? Yes respect the family during this time etc. but we can still make observations about a person….
It’s pretty unnecessary to pop in and be like ACTUALLY HE WASNT THAT GOOD
Didn’t say he wasn’t good in general, just for the Brewers, and noted they shouldn’t have made a trade in hindsight. Actually interesting and glad it was brought up. Better than comments about how you’re a terrible person if you don’t glaze the deceased
agreed
There’s a difference between respecting the deceased and “glazing”, choof.
Now that is what I call a grudge. Probably time to let go.
But at least he founded a huge retail warehouse chain.
Kmart?
Walmart? I thought that was Wally Backman
Anyone who plays 658 games in the bigs deserves respect. Not a star, but a good guy to have on the roster. RIP., Andy.
respect. RESPECT!!
Downing’s career was in decline at the time of the deal. Great comeback year, though.
You should hear Schlitz’ take on the wake. No parking, finger sandwiches were a joke, real clown show
And after one season the Brewers traded him even up for Tommie Reynolds. Another corner outfield type. Only he hit for an even lower batting average than Kosco with no power. Brewers management was a real mess in those days
I remember him well. RIP,
It’s interesting as I read your description of positions that he played and while today you would call him utility player back when he played he was known as a ballplayer
Loved his Glizzies.
I wasn’t alive back in the day and don’t know him, from the description, he’s a good player. RIP
He hit a home run when I attended my first mlb game in 1969 when he played for LA- He was a good , not great player. He did give me a great memory, that night was Montreal’s 20th loss in a row, Wills last game before coming back to LA, and a W for Claude “Gomer Pyle” Osteen.
,,
I had never heard of him until reading about his passing but wow did he ever play with some big names during his time in the Majors.
Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva in Minnesota. Don Drysdale, Don Sutton and Jim Bunning with the Dodgers. Nolan Ryan with the Angels. Carl Yastrzemski, Carton Fisk and Reggie Smith with Boston. Then he ended his career just before the Big Red Machine peaked but got to play with Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr.
Keep in mind that he played about 4 full seasons worth of games over his entire career.
Rod Carew was he good? Just recall Beastie Boys and hits callout
No, not good….. great!
In game 2 of the 1973 NLCS, Andy Kosco had the only 2 hits that Mets’ lefty Jon Matlack gave up, and he also walked. Matlack shut down Bench, Perez, Rose, Morgan… So I’ve always been grateful to Andy Kosco for avoiding the Reds further embarrassment.
I remember Andy’s brief time with the Reds too.
RIP Andy. Condolences to his family and friends. Say howdy to Pete and Joe in that big dugout in the sky.
I have a feeling Rose will be playing his ballgames on the South side of eternity and not the North
lol!
Kosco played a bit before my time, but his 1973 regular and postseason stats with the Reds are impressive:
.280/.346/.568 with 9 HR and 21 RBI in just 131 plate appearances in the 1973 regular season, 3/10 with 2 walks in 12 plate appearances that postseason
Excellent production in a part-time duty with an excellent Reds team in the second-to-last year of his eleven season career.
RIP
Andy was a great bench bat for the Reds in 1973. Power off the bench when you could carry a guy who would not start much but could come off the bench regularly. 2 extra players on your bench help.
And he had a really good Strat-O-Matic card in 1973.
A standout season when the lack of a DH meant championship-caliber NL teams really valued late-inning pinch hitters.
You left out he played with the Mick starting lineup 1968
And in Mantle’s last game, he replaced him at first base.
Pepitone and Bobby cox as well .
All of you jealous haters. “Not that good”? The guy played in Major League Baseball, the best league on the planet. He hit 73 Home Runs more than any here posting.
Respect right now for his passing and respect Mr Kosco made it to the Majors, something none on here have accomplished.
Which planet? Uranus?
Immature and an idiot
I’m not quite sure why I liked Kosco, but I did.
I knew him slightly. From Youngstown,Ohio (Struthers actually ) same Youngstown as George Shuba . His kid Dru was pretty good player through HS. RIP. you were a hero to many younger baseball players
RIP Andy…..
Traded to the Red Sox in the notorious 1972 season. That’s when Bowie Kuhn decided to not make up a handful of games missed by the strike. I do remember he was a good bench bat with some power. He did well for himself. Godspeed.
The good news is, he is not dead, but out of body, doesn’t need oxygen any more. He a free soul now
I wasn’t alive yet in 1974. But RIP. Thank you for your service to our great sport sir.